ScienceDaily: Top Technology News

Nearly 1,000 mysterious strands revealed in Milky Way’s center

Posted: 02 Feb 2022 10:46 AM PST

More than 35 years ago, a Northwestern professor discovered mysterious, gigantic magnetic filaments in the Milky Way galaxy's turbulent center. Now, armed with more advanced technology, he and his collaborators have uncovered nearly 1,000 of the strange structures.

Shadow of cosmic water cloud reveals the temperature of the young universe

Posted: 02 Feb 2022 08:18 AM PST

Astronomers have found a new and original method for measuring the cosmic microwave background's temperature when the Universe was still in its infancy. They confirm in their new study the early cooling of our Universe shortly after the Big Bang and open up new perspectives on the elusive dark energy.

Satellites and light reflections help researchers spot coastal plastic waste

Posted: 02 Feb 2022 08:18 AM PST

Geospatial scientists have found a way to detect plastic waste on remote beaches that are not visible in conventional satellite images, bringing us closer to global monitoring options.

Simple, inexpensive, fast and accurate nano-sensors pinpoint infectious diseases

Posted: 02 Feb 2022 08:18 AM PST

Researchers describe a novel method for detecting viruses like Ebola virus (EBOV) and SARS CoV-2.

Cooling matter from a distance

Posted: 02 Feb 2022 08:18 AM PST

Researchers have succeeded in forming a control loop consisting of two quantum systems separated by a distance of one meter. Within this loop, one quantum system -- a vibrating membrane -- is cooled by the other -- a cloud of atoms, and the two systems are coupled to one another by laser light. Interfaces such as this allow different kinds of quantum systems to interact with one another even over relatively large distances and will play a key role in quantum technologies of the future.

Reassessing radon as a reliable groundwater tracer

Posted: 02 Feb 2022 08:18 AM PST

As radioactive atoms are transported through groundwater aquifers in the form of gaseous radon, they are eventually transferred to the atmosphere. Measurements of the rate of this transfer can, in theory, be used to trace the infiltration of water into the surrounding soil. Yet a new study shows that this technique could have a significant flaw.

Predicting cell fates: Researchers develop AI solutions for next-gen biomedical research

Posted: 02 Feb 2022 08:18 AM PST

Data is not only the answer to numerous questions in the business world; the same applies to biomedical research. In order to develop new therapies or prevention strategies for diseases, scientists need more and better data, faster and faster. However, the quality is often very variable and the integration of different data sets often almost impossible.

A new amplifying technique for weak and noisy signals

Posted: 02 Feb 2022 08:17 AM PST

Scientists have demonstrated a technique for the recovery of weak, noise-dominated optical signals.

New lightweight material is stronger than steel

Posted: 02 Feb 2022 08:17 AM PST

Chemical engineers have created a new material that is stronger than steel, as light as plastic, and can be easily manufactured in large quantities.

The path to renewable fuel just got easier

Posted: 02 Feb 2022 06:19 AM PST

The holy grail of bio-fuel researchers is to develop a self-sustaining process that converts waste from sewage, food crops, algae and other renewable carbon sources into fuels, while keeping waste carbon out of our atmosphere and water. Much progress has been made in converting such waste to useful fuel but completing the cycle using clean energy has proved a tough nut to crack.

Research advances technology of AI assistance for anesthesiologists

Posted: 02 Feb 2022 06:19 AM PST

A new deep learning algorithm trained to optimize doses of propofol to maintain unconsciousness during general anesthesia could aid anesthesiologists and augment monitoring, according to a new study.

Magnetic seeds used to heat and kill cancer

Posted: 01 Feb 2022 05:11 PM PST

Scientists have developed a novel cancer therapy that uses an MRI scanner to guide a magnetic seed through the brain to heat and destroy tumors.

Artificial intelligence system rapidly predicts how two proteins will attach

Posted: 01 Feb 2022 01:56 PM PST

A new machine learning system can predict the structure formed when two proteins dock, in a process that's between 50 to 800 times faster than some software-based methods. This could help scientists better understand biological processes or speed the development of new therapies.

Mass customization can make fashion more sustainable if customers are willing to wait for it

Posted: 01 Feb 2022 01:56 PM PST

Mass customization, where customers order clothing made to their own style tastes and measurements, has been proposed as one solution to overproduction. But the logistical challenges of tailoring garments to individual customer requests and lengthy manufacturing lead times have discouraged most firms from adopting mass customization. They might want to reconsider that decision, according to a new study.

Moons may yield clues to what makes planets habitable

Posted: 01 Feb 2022 11:40 AM PST

Because the moon is so important to life on Earth, scientists conjecture that a moon may be a potentially beneficial feature in harboring life on other planets. Most planets have moons, but Earth's moon is distinct in that it is large compared to the size of Earth; the moon's radius is larger than a quarter of Earth's radius, a much larger ratio than most moons to their planets. New research finds that distinction significant.

New model to investigate fibrosis treatments without use of animals

Posted: 01 Feb 2022 11:40 AM PST

A new 3D connective tissue model gives researchers a sophisticated tool to understand the underlying mechanisms of connective tissue disorders and test potential treatments.

How Omicron escapes from antibodies

Posted: 01 Feb 2022 11:39 AM PST

Dozens of mutations in the spike protein of the Omicron variant help it to evade all four of the classes of antibodies that can target SARS-CoV-2, according to a new study. This includes antibodies generated by the immune systems of vaccinated or previously infected people, as well as most of the monoclonal antibody treatments that have been developed.

New Earth Trojan asteroid

Posted: 01 Feb 2022 11:39 AM PST

Astronomers have confirmed the existence of the second Earth Trojan asteroid known to date, the 2020 XL5, after a decade of search.

Researchers develop highly accurate modeling tool to predict COVID-19 risk

Posted: 01 Feb 2022 11:39 AM PST

Researchers have combined location density with real-world mobility data to predict the risk of infection from COVID-19 at specific locations with unprecedented accuracy.

Single-use sensor strips detect cerebrospinal fluid leaks

Posted: 01 Feb 2022 08:53 AM PST

Researchers developed a single-use sensor strip that can be used with a circuit board to detect cerebrospinal fluid leaks. They collected nine clinical samples and introduced the test fluid into a small liquid channel on the tip of the sensor strips. The liquid channel held electrodes, which contained antibodies specific to proteins found only in human cerebrospinal fluid. The circuit board analyzed the signal and produced a four-digit number that correlates to the concentration of the protein beta-2-transferrin, found in CSF.

More predictive in vitro assays may improve nanomedicine

Posted: 01 Feb 2022 08:52 AM PST

One recent obstacle to drug delivery research is an observed weak correlation between in vitro and in vivo performance. When nanoparticles are applied intravenously, they face several obstacles that differ from in vitro situations. Nanoparticles are usually covered by a biomolecular multilayer (a protein corona), which alters the physiochemical properties, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity profile of the nanoparticles.

Researchers study waves created by recreational boats

Posted: 01 Feb 2022 08:52 AM PST

A new study found that popular wakesurf boats require a greater distance from the shoreline and other boats compared to more typical recreational boats. This distance is needed to reduce the potential impact of their larger waves.

A new way to store sustainable energy: 'Information batteries'

Posted: 01 Feb 2022 08:52 AM PST

Renewable energy has an intermittency problem -- the sun provides no power at night, while winds can stop suddenly. Better battery storage is considered key to solving the intermittency problem by storing energy when the wind and sun are strong. But current storage solutions, including lithium-ion batteries and pumped hydro, are expensive and challenging to scale. What if surplus renewable energy could be stored as computation instead?

The power of chaos: A robust and low-cost cryptosystem for the post-quantum era

Posted: 01 Feb 2022 08:52 AM PST

Scientists develop a chaos-based stream cipher that can withstand attacks from large-scale quantum computers.

Historic buildings could be protected from rising energy bills by solar panels

Posted: 01 Feb 2022 08:52 AM PST

Installing solar panels could help historic buildings beat the rising costs of energy, according to a new study.

On the spot drug delivery with light-controlled organic microswimmers

Posted: 01 Feb 2022 08:52 AM PST

Scientists have developed organic microparticles that can steer through biological fluids and dissolved blood in unprecedented ways. Even in very salty liquids, the microswimmers can be propelled forward at high speed by visible light, either individually or as a swarm. Additionally, they are partially biocompatible and can take up and release cargo on demand. The material properties are so ideal they could pave the way toward designing semi-autonomous microrobots applied in biomedicine.

How fuel poverty 'gets under the skin'

Posted: 01 Feb 2022 08:52 AM PST

New research shows that fuel poverty makes people's physical and mental health worse. Researchers found that not being able to keep homes warm enough affects people's levels of life satisfaction. But they also found that it impacts people's physical health by causing higher levels of inflammation, measured by fibrinogen, a blood-based biomarker.

New power transfer technology provides unprecedented freedom for wireless charging

Posted: 01 Feb 2022 08:52 AM PST

So far, safely charging devices anywhere in a large area has been a challenge, but researchers have developed a transfer technology that can direct power to individual devices without needing to know their location. The technology has already been tested with commercial robots, and it can also be used to charge phones, laptops, or household appliances. No plugs, no tracking, and no complex computing -- just clever use of electromagnetics. Devices can be charged while they are moving, so with a bit more development this technology could even charge electric cars on the road.

Compounds made from 'digested' molecules feeds appetite for greener pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals

Posted: 01 Feb 2022 08:52 AM PST

A method of producing vital chemical building blocks for use in the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries mimics how plants manufacture them.

Response to exercise is key to novel device therapy for the most common type of heart failure

Posted: 01 Feb 2022 08:51 AM PST

A new study suggests that some patients with HFpEF may benefit from a novel, minimally invasive cardiac implant device called an atrial shunt. The study also offers new insight into the role exercise plays in understanding, diagnosing and treating this type of heart failure.

New computational tool predicts cell fates and genetic perturbations

Posted: 01 Feb 2022 08:51 AM PST

Researchers have built a machine learning framework that can define the mathematical equations describing a cell's trajectory from one state to another, such as its development from a stem cell into one of several different types of mature cell. The framework, called dynamo, can also be used to figure out the underlying mechanisms -- the specific cocktail of gene activity -- driving changes in the cell.

Even dying stars can still give birth to planets

Posted: 01 Feb 2022 04:45 AM PST

Planets are usually not much older than the stars around which they revolve. Take the Sun: it was born 4.6 billion years ago, and not long after that, Earth came into the world. But astronomers have discovered that a completely different scenario is also possible. Even if they are near death, some types of stars can possibly still form planets. If this is confirmed, theories on planet formation will need to be adjusted.

What the rise of oxygen on early Earth tells us about life on other planets

Posted: 31 Jan 2022 01:15 PM PST

When did the Earth reach oxygen levels sufficient to support animal life? Researchers have discovered that a rise in oxygen levels occurred in step with the evolution and expansion of complex, eukaryotic ecosystems. Their findings represent the strongest evidence to date that extremely low oxygen levels exerted an important limitation on evolution for billions of years.

Molecular machine in nano cage

Posted: 31 Jan 2022 12:33 PM PST

Theoretical chemists have constructed a molecular gyroscope that can be controlled remotely by light. They also succeeded in characterizing the rotational movements of this synthetic nanomachine with computer simulations.

Power at sea: Towards high-performance seawater batteries

Posted: 31 Jan 2022 12:33 PM PST

Despite the many potential applications of seawater batteries (SWBs), the limited performance of available materials has hindered their commercialization. To tackle this issue, scientists have developed a novel co-doped carbon material for the anode of SWBs. Their straightforward synthesis route and the high performance of the developed anode material will pave the way for the widespread adoption of SWBs, which are safer and less expensive than lithium-ion batteries.

Researchers develop molecular traps to target SARS-CoV-2

Posted: 31 Jan 2022 12:32 PM PST

A research team has engineered novel nanoparticles to serve as 'molecular traps' to target SARS-CoV-2, the virus that spreads COVID-19. The traps bind to SARS-CoV-2 and prevent it from attacking macrophages.

Scientists use 'sticky' DNA to build organized structures of gel blocks

Posted: 31 Jan 2022 10:28 AM PST

Researchers have used microscopic strands of DNA to guide the assembly of gel blocks that are visible to the naked eye.

Towards greener smart cities with machine learning-based 'sleep schedules'

Posted: 31 Jan 2022 10:19 AM PST

While cellular networks are the foundation of smart cities, they consume a lot of energy, enhancing global warming. Putting base stations (BSs) with low traffic to sleep saves energy but also reduces traffic prediction accuracy. In a new study, researchers address this trade-off using machine learning technique to switch off BSs based on their contribution to prediction accuracy. The new scheme reduces power consumption and demonstrates a prediction accuracy superior to benchmark schemes.

A new method for quantum computing

Posted: 31 Jan 2022 08:04 AM PST

Physicists have proposed a new architecture for a scalable quantum computer. Making use of the collective motion of the constituent particles, they were able to construct new building blocks for quantum computing that pose fewer technical difficulties than current state-of-the art methods.

2D material in three dimensions

Posted: 31 Jan 2022 08:04 AM PST

For years, scientists have tried to develop 2D-materials such as graphene, which consists of only one layer of carbon atoms. But what if you need to fit as much graphene as possible into a limited space? Then the graphene layer has to be turned into a complex 3d shape.

Making RNA vaccines easier to swallow

Posted: 31 Jan 2022 08:04 AM PST

Researchers developed a way to deliver RNA in a capsule that can be swallowed, which could make RNA vaccines easier to tolerate. It could also make it easier to deliver other kinds of therapeutic RNA or DNA directly to the digestive tract, to help treat gastrointestinal disorders.

Alternative technique for determining the true activity of catalysts

Posted: 31 Jan 2022 05:38 AM PST

Electrolysis of water into hydrogen and oxygen is a potential source of clean hydrogen fuel. However, the process requires efficient electrocatalysts. Unfortunately, conventional techniques often overestimate their efficiency. Now, researchers demonstrate an alternative technique for gauging the electrocatalytic performance accurately, opening doors to a smooth transition from lab-scale studies to large-scale hydrogen fuel generation and commercialization of new catalysts with no activity loss issues from overestimation of activity with transient voltammetry techniques.

Scientists uncover how the shape of melting ice depends on water temperature

Posted: 31 Jan 2022 05:38 AM PST

A team of mathematicians and physicists has discovered how ice formations are shaped by external forces, such as water temperature. Its newly published research may offer another means for gauging factors that cause ice to melt.

Researchers use mobile device data to predict COVID-19 outbreaks

Posted: 31 Jan 2022 05:38 AM PST

Researchers were able to accurately predict outbreaks of COVID-19 in Connecticut municipalities using anonymous location information from mobile devices, according to a new study. The novel analysis applied in the study could help health officials stem community outbreaks of COVID-19 and allocate testing resources more efficiently, the researchers said.

Scientists identify geological 'Goldilocks zone' for the formation of metal ore deposits

Posted: 31 Jan 2022 05:38 AM PST

Scientists have identified a mechanism through which important metals, crucial to the manufacturing of renewable energy technologies, are passed from the Earth's mantle to the crust.

Topology at the corner of the dining table

Posted: 28 Jan 2022 11:13 AM PST

A research team has discovered an unusual topological aspect of sodium chloride, commonly known as table salt, which will not only facilitate the understanding of the mechanism behind salt's dissolution and formation, but may also pave the way for the future design of nanoscale conducting quantum wires.

2D materials could be used to simulate brain synapses in computers

Posted: 28 Jan 2022 07:07 AM PST

Computers could mimic neural networks in the brain -- and be much more energy efficient -- with a new computer component that mimics how the brain works by acting like a synaptic cell. It's called an electrochemical random access memory (ECRAM), and researchers have developed materials that offer a commercially-viable way to build these components.